6. Say No

If your schedule is overwhelming, find something that you can cut out. Or when you get asked to add something new to your schedule, politely decline.

If you’re super busy and frazzled and running on empty, you won’t be able to give that task 100%, so they’d be better off with someone else anyways. Lighten your load where you can.

7. Listen to an Uplifting Podcast

Podcasts can be so inspiring! I’ve been listening to a few different ones lately.

My favorites are ‘Happier with Gretchen Rubin’ for happiness and habit tips and ‘Young House Love has a Podcast’ for fun chats about home decor (I loved their blog back in the day, so I’m happy they have a podcast now!).

14. Plan a Simple Morning and/or Bedtime Routine

Having a good morning or evening routine can help you feel more organized or on top of things.

It doesn’t have to include a particular wake up or bedtime. It’s just a series of tasks to do when you do wake up or when it is bedtime.

Plan out a simple routine to try tonight or tomorrow morning. Don’t forget to write it down. It might take a few days to get in the habit, but it will help simplify those parts of your day.

My current morning routine is short and easy:

Let Mozzie out

Wash Face

Put contacts in

Do something with my hair

Let Mozzie in and feed him

Eat breakfast (it’s always chocolate mini wheats)

Feed Mozzie again (he eats like a hobbit in lots of tiny meals)

I highly recommend taking the Make Over Your Mornings class by Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom if you struggle with getting your day started on the right foot.

The advice in this class has been making a big difference in my entire day (not just the mornings). I used to have a hard time getting going in the morning, and now I wake up ready to tackle my to do list. I’ve been so much more productive all day long since taking this course.

15. Write Down Your Top 3 for Tomorrow

Write down the top three things you need to get done tomorrow. They should be the three most important things.

You can have another list of other tasks you’d like to get done, but these three are the priority.

Your day tomorrow will be simplified because you know where to focus your energy and attention.

Don’t forget to consult your list of goals when writing down your top three. Work on something each day that gets you closer to your goals.

Side note: How amazing and adorable is this daily planner? It’s going on my Christmas list! (Mom, are you reading this? 🙂 )

16. Pick Up One Room and Then Enjoy It

When I’m overwhelmed, I like to hang out in my bedroom. I can pick it up and make the bed in about 5 or 10 minutes. Then I sit on the bed and enjoy the tidy and organized space. It’s a calm area to read or watch a show on my laptop.

Pick a room that can be picked up fairly quickly. Take a few minutes to tidy the space and then enjoy it!

17. Create a Uniform

I love the idea of daily uniform! Some majorly successful people, like Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama, use their own daily uniform to help eliminate decision fatigue. Less decisions to make each day = a simpler life.

Spend some time deciding what you’re ideal daily uniform would be and if that’s something you could make happen. Commit to trying for a week!

I’ve got a basic uniform for when I leave the house and have to socialize 🙂 Read about it here.

18. Automate It

Think of a bill that you can automate through your bank online. Or set up an automatic transfer to your savings account or retirement account. It’s one less thing you have to think about and is sure to happen regularly.

19. Take a Social Media Break

In 30 minutes, you can log out of every one of your social media accounts. Stay logged off all day long to give yourself a social media break.

I can waste so much time and energy scrolling through Facebook instead of using my time and energy to live my own life!

If you actually take the time to log off, it’s a barrier to you getting back on, which just might help.

Update: I made a free printable for you so that you can remember all of these ideas whenever you have 30 minutes (or less) to spare! Just enter your name and email address below and I’ll send it right over to you.

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The concept of a “simple life” can seem vague or just not possible for real life. These are some concrete actions that you can take today to help create a simpler life. A life where you are free from clutter, have time to think straight, and can enjoy your life!

⇒ What are practical ways that you simplify your life?

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Comments

Simplifying lists make me so happy, and I love this list! Everything on it is perfect for simplifying your life! I like to reevaluate my decorations in my home. If I am feeling overwhelmed, often times it has to do with my surroundings. By simplifying my decor just a little bit, I am able to feel calm and relaxed.

I just thought about my Christmas decorations last night! Right now, I have two large totes full of decorations, along with a Christmas Tree. I am seriously thinking about doing a purge with all of it and only keeping what will fit in one large tote instead. It is one thing I am holding onto for when we build our home, but by then, my taste will probably be different.

I love your list! And I love Chalene, lol. Not multitasking is a big one for me, I feel like I am always multitasking. When I am too overwhelmed, I tend to freeze up. Then, I just know I need to take a step back and not do anything for a bit so I can regroup.

Love these tips! One thing I love about going to our cabin in the middle of NOWHERE is there is no electricity and terrible cell service. Enforced internet detox. 🙂 I noticed that have that same “Weird Michigan” book on my shelf! How funny!

Me too! I multitask so often that it feels weird to slow down and focus on one thing.

Welcome! I’m Christine:

I spend my days helping others get organized, stick to a budget, and create healthier habits. Good stuff, right?

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